Marine propulsion device



Jan. 21, 1969 STRUMOR 3,422,785

MARINE PROPULS ION DEVICE Filed July 21, 1967 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR.

& MAT/{Eu A). 5TUMOI2 Jan. 1969 M. A. STRUMOR MARINE PROPULSION DEVICE Sheet 2 of Filed July 21, 1967 INVENTOR. flflmm/ /72 W70 F l G.

:JA5WM- United States Patent O 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A marine propulsion device for use both as a propulsion unit for a diver and as an auxiliary outboard motor for a boat comprising a housing having a motor therein driving a propeller. A rod is connected to the housing to serve as gripping means for a diver and is swingable to an upright position for suspending the device from the transom of a boat.

This invention relates to a marine propulsion device adapted to be used both as a propulsion unit for a diver and as an auxiliary outboard motor.

One of the popular outdoor sports is underwater swimming or scuba diving. The diver not only has the unusual experience of being able to stay for an extended period of time under water, but also can perform useful functions in exploration, rescue operations, repair of equipment, and fishing. To this end, it is often desirable to provide the diver with some means of accelerating progress through the water.

It is the concept of the invention to not only provide a device for propelling the diver at a relatively high rate, but which may be used as an auxiliary outboard motor or as an emergency propulsion unit should there be failure of a boats power drive.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a safe and convenient marine propulsion device capable of being used both by a diver and as an auxiliary motor for a boat. One of the particular features of the invention is a means used for enabling a diver to grasp the marine propulsion device, the same means being movable from a substantially horizontal position to an upright position for suspending the device from a boat.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a marine propulsion device that is simple in construction, capable of using various existing parts, which is attractive in appearance, and efficient in operation.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this marine propulsion device, preferred embodiments of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown in use by a scuba diver;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with parts being shown in section for greater detail, and showing the device in an extended position in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with parts being shown in section for greater detail, and showing the device in an extended position in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view of portions of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the device as suspended from the transom of a boat, portions of the boat being shown in section;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

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FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing the device in position for attachment to a boat; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 9-9 in FIG. 8, illustrating the relative arrangement of the clamp means utilized in the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and with initial attention to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate a marine propulsion device illustrated in accordance with the concepts of the present invention. The marine propulsion device 10 includes a housing 12. Disposed in the housing is an electric motor and suitable rechargeable batteries for driving the motor. The motor drives a shaft 14 having an end extending outwardly of the housing on which a propeller 16 is mounted. The shaft 14 is journalled in the housing by suitable bearings, the motor and the mounting means for the shaft not being shown.

The housing 12 has a tapered front portion 18 narrowing into a streamlined prow 20. The housing further has a tapered reared portion 22 so arranged that the center of gravity of the marine propulsion device is arranged substantially along the median line 24 along the front part 18, and rear part 22. Of course, the location of the battery and motor may easily be selected to insure desirable center of balance.

A propeller guard in the form of a ring 26 is secured to the housing 12 by means of straps 28 and may be removed when it is desired to utilize the device as auxiliary propulsion means for a boat. A pair of rods 30 are mounted in elongated recesses 32 opening at the rearmost face 34 of the front section 18. Each of the rods includes a front section 36 and a rear section 38 hingedly secured at 40 to each other. The hinge means 40 may be spring pressed to normally urge the section 38 into an upright position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein a pin extending through aligned apertures 42 and 44 formed in the front section 36 and rear section 38 respectively may be used to lock their parts in the rear portion 38 in the upright position. The end 46 of the front section 36 is channel shaped and bifurcated to receive the front of the rear portion 38 which when the rear portion 38 is in its upright position engages the bottom 48 connecting the bifurcations 46. The rod further includes a telescopic extension 50 which is movable from a forward position as shown in FIG. 3 to a rearmost position where the spring pressed detent '52 thereof becomes engaged with a detent 54 in the recess 56 when in the foremost position. The front part 36 carries a spring pressed ball detent 58 which is engageable within a socket 60 formed in the slidable extension 50 and is alternatively engaged in a socket 62 when the rear part 38 is in its non-extended position as shown in FIG. 2.

The rearmost portions 38 terminate in U-shaped handles 70 within which clamping elements 72 are threadedly detachably engaged so that when the device is used as an aid to a scuba diver, the clamping members 72 may be entirely removed, but when the device is used as an auxiliary outboard motor, the clamping elements may be used to secure the motor to the transom of a boat 76.

In use, it is merely necessary to actuate a switch, not shown, turning on the motor so as to drive the propeller 16 so that the scuba diver may grasp the handle 70 and aiming the device 10 can be carried in that direction. When it is desired to use the device as an auxiliary outboard motor, the propeller guard 26 may be removed and the telescoping rods may then be extended so that spring hinge means 40 will urge the portions 38 to an upright position whereby the clamping means 72 may be used to hold the device to a boat, a pin being inserted in aligned bores 42 and 44.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. through 9 herein the housing 112 is of a suitable shape for balance and water-friction reduction and has therein formed in the upper surface a recess 114 in which a rod 116 extends. Within the housing 112 there is a motor driving a shaft 118 which extends outwardly of the housing to the rear thereof and has a prOpeller 120 fixed thereon. Pivoted to the rod by suitable hinges 122, are a pair of hand grips 124 and 126. These hand grips may be moved from their outwardly diverging position as shOWn in FIG. 5 to a position where they extend parallel to each other, the pivotal movement being indicated by arrows 128. Fixed to the hand grip 126 is a clamp holder 130 which is recessed at 132 to receive the free end 134 of the hand grip 126 when in the position as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The groove 114 is suitably shaped adjacent the pivot pin 140 which attaches the rod 116 to the housing 112. Spring pressed locking detents 142 are mounted on the rod for engagement within sockets 144 provided in the housing 112. The bottom edge 144 is adapted to engage the bottom of the recess 114 at the location indicated at 148 when the rod 116 is pivoted to its upright position. Separate means such as a pin may be provided for locking the rod 116' in the upright position. In the upright position a clamping element 150 is threadedly engaged and the clamping means 131) within a threaded bore 152 provided therein for adapting the device to the transom of a boat. The clamping member 150 functioning in conjunction with the rod 116 to clampingly suspend the motor 112 at its center of balance from a boat is used as an auxiliary propulsion unit.

In use, a scuba diver merely grasps the hand grips 126 and 12-8 and pressing a starter switch, which may be located on one of the hand grips or at any other convenient location, can aim the device and be speeded to the destination to which the device is headed. Alternatively the device may be used as an auxiliary motor for a boat. A propeller guard may be provided for the propeller 120'.

I claim:

1. A marine propulsion device comprising a housing, a shaft journalled in said housing and having a free end extending beyond said housing, a motor in said housing driving said shaft, a propeller fixed on said free end, a recess in said housing, a rod disposed in said recess and having a portion extending outwardly of said recess, handle means on the rearwardmost part of said portion of said rod, means pivotally mounting said portion of said rod for movement from a substantially horizontal position with said handle means disposed rearwardly of said propeller to a substantially vertical position wherein said housing is suspended directly below said handle means, and means for locking said handle in said vertical position so that said device can function as offset drive means for a body disposed above said propulsion device.

2. A marine propulsion device comprising a housing, a shaft journalled in said housing and having a free end extending beyond said housing, a motor in said housing driving said shaft, a propeller fixed on said free end, a recess in said housing, a rod disposed in said recess and having a portion extending outwardly of said recess, handle means on the rearwardmost part of said portion of said rod, means pivotally mounting said portion of said rod for movement from a substantially horizontal position with said handle means disposed rearwardly of said propeller to a substantially vertical position wherein said housing is suspended directly below said handle means, and clamp means for securing said device to a boat transom, said clamp means being connected to said handle means.

3. A marine propulsion device comprising a housing, a shaft journalled in said housing and having a free end extending beyond said housing, a motor in said housing driving said shaft, a propeller fixed on said free end, a recess in said housing, a rod disposed in said recess and having a portion extending outwardly of said recess, handle means on the rearwardmost part of said portion of said rod, means pivotally mounting said portion of said rod for movement from a substantially horizontal position with said handle means disposed rearwardly of said propeller to a substantially vertical position wherein said housing is suspended directly below said handle means, said handle means including a pair of complementary hand grips hingedly secured to said portion of said rod, said hand grips being movable from a divergent position to a position where said hand grips are parallel 10 each other.

4. A device according to claim 3, including clamp means on one of said hand grips for securing said device to a boat transom.

5. A device according to claim 1, including locking means for holding said rod in said substantially horizontal position.

6. A device according to claim 1, said rod being longitudinally slidable in said recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,914,018 11/1959 Schachner et a1. 6.l 3,181,493 5/1965 Perkut 1156.1 3,326,175 6/1967 Baker 1l4-235 TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

